Rockdale Citizen

CONYERS --The Rockdale County Board of Education approved two new system directors to fill vacant spots.

The Georgia Department of Education's Demeka Breedlove Mays will fill the position of director of Curriculum and Instruction for Rockdale County Public Schools. The position became vacant after the former director, Leslie DeMarco, was appointed chief academic officer for RCPS.

Mays currently is an education program specialist in the Office of School Improvement at the Georgia DOE. She's also worked as a data-instructional support specialist for Fulton County Schools and an adjunct writing teacher at Westwood College. She has also held other educational positions in Florida and North Carolina.

She holds a bachelor of arts degree in English education from Florida A&M University and a master of science in education degree from Nova Southeastern University. She also is certified in educational leadership.

Mays will begin Aug. 27.

"I am pleased to have Ms. Breedlove-Mays join Rockdale County Public Schools," said RCPS Superintendent Richard Autry on Monday. "She has extensive leadership experience in this capacity at the state, central office and school levels."

The board also approved Shirley Chesser, currently principal at Honey Creek Elementary School, as the director of Professional Learning for RCPS.

The current director, Dr. Linda Sevigny, has resigned effective Aug. 31 to take a position as deputy superintendent of Teaching & Learning with Norfolk Public Schools in Virginia. Previous RCPS Superintendent Samuel King left RCPS July 1 to take the superintendent position in Norfolk Public Schools in Virginia.

Chesser began as principal of Honey Creek in 2009. She was a fifth-grade teacher and instructional coordinator at Shoal Creek for four years before becoming principal at Peek's Chapel Elementary School in 2005.

She holds a bachelor of arts degree in general studies from Hampton University and a master of education degree in educational leadership from Columbus State University. She also holds certifications in educational leadership, teacher support, early childhood education and middle grades.

Chesser will begin as soon as the Honey Creek principal's position is filled, according to Cindy Ball, director of Community Relations at RCPS.

"I am equally pleased to have Ms. Shirley Chesser change roles from principal to the director of Professional Learning," Autry said. "Ms. Chesser has proven leadership experience within our school system and is familiar with our strategic initiatives for professional learning."

Both were hired through a normal application and hiring process after the positions were posted in July, according to Ball.

"Both educators are extremely qualified and we look forward to having them join us in these respective roles," Autry said.